Korean multinational Daewoo Engineering and Construction which is constructing Kazungula Bridge will today shut the site due to non payment of money by the Zambian government.
Two weeks ago, the Watchdog revealed that construction workers at the bridge had gone on strike because they had not been paid their February salaries. The contractor could not afford to pay workers because Zambia owes Daewoo $14 million.
In response, the Zambia government instructed a junior officer (press secretary) at the high commission in Botswana to issue an empty statement in which he did not even say when Zambia will pay.
But as the Watchdog said then, Zambia has not paid the contractor while Botswana and cooperating partners are all upto date with their commitments.
The contractor has now informed workers that it has not received the money and is unable to continue constructing the bridge so work has stopped until the money is paid.
During the first strike two weeks ago, Botswana president Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi talked to President Edgar Lungu to pat the contractor as Zambia’s failure to pay was affecting the work, would delay completion and will increase costs.
The project, which entails construction of a 923 metre-long rail/road extra dosed cable stayed bridge with approach roads as well as construction of one stop border posts on the Zambia and Botswana sides, was scheduled for completion last year but failed due to Zambia’s failure to pay.
The bridge is expected to reduce transit time for freight and passengers, boost the regional economy and even increase global competitiveness of goods from Botswana and Zambia due to reduced time-based trade and transport costs.
See attached letter.
COMMENTS
Nga nati DUNUNA IYE AAAEEEE DUNUNA IYE DUNUNA REVERSE. That was PF’s signature song for the 2016 elections. They were telling us they will put the country in reverse gear but we were hoodwinked by the tune and dance and thought it was fun. Now only a few corrupt fellows are smiling and the rest of us are paying the price because the country in going backwards, in reverse gear at 100km per hour. We need someone to change this situation and change the country’s economy into FORWARD gear. 2021 will soon be here.
I was of the view that the PF Government is the champion of infrastructure development. How come now they are failing to pay for such important project. Is it because it is in Southern Province. It seems PF Government is simply big mouthed and do nothing Government.
Its not that they are unable to pay. The major reason is that they failed to extort bribes from this ptoject being undertaken by a South Korean company. Had it been a corrupt Chinese AVIC company, they would have paid 28 USD and pocketed 14 USD. Very embarassing situation indeed to fail to honour a bilateral project
How long will Zambia continue to behave stupidly because they have elected a Government of looters. Our true colours are now being exposed by PF Government. So as far as some of us are concerned Barotseland should not be part of the failed state called Zambia.